Motor driven toothbrush



April 9,1935. F. M, VAN .FLEET 'Y 1,997,352

MOTOR DRI VEN TOOTHBRUSH Filed Sept. 13, 1934 Patented Apr.- 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Francis M. Van Fleet, Washington, D. C. Application September 13, 1934, Serial No. 743,914

Claims.

' ment and in operative engagement with a portin the novel construction,

able electric motor of the ing movement thereto.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a motor driven toothbrush of the foregoing character wherein the motor casing a'nd extension thereof housing the motor and operating mechanisxn of the toothbrush is formed of Bakelite, hard rubber, or other similar substance with metallic bearings within the casing for the movable elements of the brush operating mechanism for hand type for impartthe reduction of wear on the parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a motor driven toothbrush wherein a disk is rotatably supported in the brush backing with an eccentric pin connection between the disk and a rotatable member and a slotted arm and pin connection between the brush backing and an immovable part of the device, for causing the toothbrush to travel in a non-rotative cir cular or orbital path.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more clearly described and then claimed.

Inthe accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a motor driven toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the device, Figure l3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken online 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a, detail sectional view taken on4 line 4-4 Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the brush end of the device showing the slotted arm and pin connection between the eccentrically mounted brush head and caslng,

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line .6--6 of Figure 3, showing the worm and worm wheel drive for the brush head, and

Figure 'l is a plan view of the eccentrically mounted disk carrying the stub shaft of the brush head.

The portable hand motor is of usual construction and embodies a casing I0 having a removable side wall II to permit access to the mechanism ofthe electric motor,4 the shaft of the electric motor being equipped with a knurled starting wheel I2 that projects througha slotted opening in the casing I0 and the cover II.

One of the novel features of the present invention is to provide a tubular extension I3 at one end of the motor casing II) that is provided at its outer end with a laterally offset portion I4 for purposes presently to appear, one side of the tubular extension I3 andoiset portion I4 comprising a removable section I5 to permit access to the toothbrushv operating mechanism inward- 1 ly of said removable section. It is intended that the motor casing with the extension I3 and removable section I5 be constructed of Bakelite or similar material, and this Bakelite casing and extension are lined with metallic bearings for 20 movable parts of the brush operating mechanism.'

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, shaft I6 of the motor I1 adjacent the extension I3 is provided with a key end I8 that is received within the key socket I9 of a shaft 20 extending through 25 the casing extension I3. A metallic bearing 2I within the extension I3 receives the key socket I9 and shaft 20,'the bearing 2| being suitably anchored within the extension I3.

A recess is formed in the adjacent faces of the 30 outer end of the extension I3, the offset portion I4 and the' removable section I5 and these recesses are lined with metallic bearings 22 as shown in Figures 3 and 5 for the rotative reception of a stubV shaft 23. The inner end of the stub shaft 23 is provided with a key socket 24 to receive the outer key end 25 of the shaft 20. A worm 26 is fixed to the stub shaft 23- at the outer end of the extension I3.

As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6 the shaft 21 is 40 Ajournaled in the top and bottom walls of the offset portion I4 of the extension I3, and las a worm wheel 28 xed thereto that is in mesh with the worm 26. The shaft 21 extends through the outer v end of the extension I3 and as shown in Figures 5 4 andl is eccentrically connected to a disk 29 that is freely mounted within a cup-shaped cap 30 that has its free edge spun inwardly as shown at 31 to overlie the inner face of the disk 29 for retention thereon, the annular wall of the cap 30 being screw-threaded. A brush head 32 is carried by a cup-shaped backing 33 that is internally threaded for threaded engagement with the cap SI1-as shown in Figure 4, the brush beingfremovable to permit replacement or the like. A u

slotted arm 3G projects laterally of the brush backing 33 and a pin 35 projecting outwardly of the outer end of the tubular extension E3 extends into the slot of the arm 34 for preventing rotary movement of the brush head, but permitting the latter to travel in a circular or orbital path.

The electric motor is adapted to be connected to the source of energy by the usual flexible conductor and rotation is initially imparted to the shaft l 8 of the electric motor by the starting wheel l2 that projects through the casing l t. Rotation of the motor shaft 1l is communicated to the worm 26 and Worm wheel 28, the latter rotating the shaft 21 and eccentric disk 29 within the cap 30. In view of the eccentric mounting of the brush backing 33 with respect to the shaft 2l and the slotted arm and pin connection 34 and 35 between the brush backing and the outer end of the tubular extension I3, the brush head 32 is caused to travel in a non-rotative circular or orbital path and this action or movement is especially effective for the brushing or cleaning of teeth. It is to be understood that other devices may be engaged with the cap 30, such as devices for massaging the gums or for other purposes.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a motor driven toothbrush, a handle, a brush head movably mounted at the outer end of the handle, motor-operated means in the handle operatively associated with the brush head for moving the latter in an orbital path, cooperating means including a slotted arm and pin extending into the arm slot `respectively carried by the brush head and handle to prevent rotary movement of the brush head, the motor-operated means including a shaft driven by the motor, a worm on the shaft, a stub shaft, a worm Wheel on the stub shaft engaged with the worrn and an eccentric connection between the stub shaft and brush head.

2. In a motor driven toothbrush, a handle, a brush head movably mounted at the outer end of the handle, motor-operated means in the han dle operatively associated with the brush head for moving the latter in an orbital path, the motor-operated means including a shaft driven by the motor, a worm on the shaft, a stub shaft, a worm wheel on the stub shaft engaged with the Worm, a disk to which the stub shaft is eccentrically attached, a cap in which the disk is rotatable, the brush head being removably attached to the cap and cooperating means carried by the brush head and handle for restraining the brush head from rotary movement and effecting orbital movement of the brush head.

3. In a motor driven toothbrush, a handle, a brush head movably mounted at the outer end of the handle, motor-operated means in the handle operatively associated with the brush head for moving the latter in an orbital path, means to prevent rotary movement of the brush head including a slotted arm and pin connection between the brush head and handle, the motor-operated means including a shaft driven by the motor, a worm on the shaft, a stub shaft, a worm wheel on the stub shaft engaged with the worm, a disk to which the stub shaft is eccentrically attached, a cap in which the disk is rotatable, and the brush head being removably attached to the cap.

4. In a motor driven toothbrush, a handle, a brushhead movably mounted at the outer end of the handle, motor-operated means in the handle operatively associated with the brush head for moving the latter in an orbital path, cooperating means carried by the brush head and handle to prevent rotary movement of the brush head, the motor-operated means including a shaft driven by the motor, a worm on theshaft, a stub shaft, a worm wheel on the stub shaft engaged with the worm, a disk to which the stub shaft is eccentrically attached, a cap in which the disk is rotatable, and the brush-head being removably attached to the cap.

5. In a motor driven toothbrush, a handle, a brush head at theouter end of the handle, a motor driven shaft in the handle, a stub shaft, gear connections between the two shafts, a disk eccentrically attached to the stub shaft, said brush -head having the disk rotatably mounted therein and cooperating means carried by the brush head and handle for holding the brush head against rotation during eccentric rotation of the disk.

FRANCIS M. VAN FLEET. 

